For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Looking back at my childhood vocabulary, it is safe to say that I used some good words that I unconsciously abused. My friends and I regularly referred to things as “awesome:” “This hamburger is awesome!” “That song is awesome!” “Your new shoes are awesome!” “The way you burped the whole alphabet was awesome!”
I have come to the point in my life where I can look back at those declarations and conclude that some of those things were not actually full of inspiring wonder and awe.
I sometimes wonder if our culture has likewise abused the word “amazing” to the point that we do not truly appreciate the amazing grace of God.
John Newton’s “Amazing Grace” is undoubtedly one of the most well-known and beloved hymns of our day, and with good reason. Though it is certainly a blessing that our culture has a familiarity with this song, the Scriptural truths that abound in this song can lose their intended force if we become so familiar with the lyrics and melody that we do not give attention to the depth of the words we are singing to our Lord.
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
The opening verse of “Amazing Grace” gives at least three reasons why God’s grace is amazing. Mr. Newton sees God’s grace as amazing because it has led to his being saved, even though he was a wretch.
The reference to his wretchedness recognizes Mr. Newton’s awareness of the hideousness of his sins before a holy God. This agrees with the Scriptural proclamation that we are sinners by nature due to Adam’s sin nature being passed on to the rest of the human race (Romans 5:12-19). The Scripture also declares that we are sinners by practice; every one of us are guilty of personally making decisions to transgress God’s holy law (Ephesians 2:1-3).
When the condition of his wretchedness is realized, it amazes Mr. Newton that he would have been saved from that condition. Like Paul, Mr. Newton understood there was no good naturally within his flesh (Romans 7:18). Though deserving of feeling the holy wrath of a just God, God showed grace to His people and saved them through the sacrificial death of Jesus, the Son of God (Romans 5:8-9).
The second and third reasons why God’s grace is amazing poetically point to relatable earthly experiences. The modern ease of pulling up accurate maps on our phones might have made us forget the fear associated with being lost. When Mr. Newton penned the words, “I once was lost, but now am found,” he was reflecting on his conversion after almost being shipwrecked at sea earlier in life. One can only imagine the sense of relief felt by Mr. Newton when he returned safely ashore. The emotions felt by Mr. Newton at the deliverance of his earthly life led him to write a hymn rejoicing in the salvation of his eternal soul—he sees a direct correlation between the excitement and joy of returning to land and the excitement and joy of being saved from his sins.
The final analogy of the opening verse speaks to one of our physical senses. The hymn speaks of a complete transformation, from being blind and without vision, to being given the gift of vision and the ability to see. Even though the gift of physical sight to a blind person would be a miracle worthy of gratitude and praise, the hymn writer is speaking of an even greater miracle. Mr. Newton is writing of a spiritual “sight,” the gift of being able to see the truths of the gospel and believe in Christ as Lord and Savior (John 3:3; 1 Corinthians 2:7-16).
The grace of God permeates the whole Bible. We see God’s grace in the opening chapters of the Scripture, with God promising to send a Deliverer to crush the serpent’s head immediately following the fall of man (Genesis 3:15), and we see God’s grace in the closing verse of the Scripture, as John wishes the grace of Jesus to be with the recipients of the book of Revelation (Revelation 22:21). It is impossible to thoughtfully read the Bible and not see the focus on God’s grace toward a wretched world of rebellious sinners.
The proper perspective on our desperate situation should draw every believer to the same conclusion as Mr. Newton—God’s grace truly is amazing! As we sing this treasured hymn in the worship of our holy Lord, as we worship the Lord in reading and meditating upon the Scripture, as we worship the Lord in prayer, and as we worship the Lord in the daily (and often mundane) events of our lives, may we be constantly reminded of the beauty and wonder of God’s amazing grace.